**Trauma Doctors at Chicago Hospital Think It’s Time to Declare Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis**
CHICAGO (CBS) — The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, recently declared gun violence a public health crisis, a move that has been long-awaited by many in Chicago. With over 48,000 gun-related deaths in 2022, the declaration underscores the severity of the issue. For survivors and healthcare professionals in Chicago, this recognition is a crucial step toward addressing a crisis that has plagued their communities for years.
Michael Tidmore, a gun violence survivor and prevention worker, vividly recalls the day he was struck by a stray bullet in Englewood at the age of 30. “It felt like a half brick was thrown into my body, and it had heavy weight,” Tidmore said. Now in his 60s, the physical and emotional scars remain. “It’s always something that you never forget, like that your body never really heals,” he added.
Tidmore believes the Surgeon General’s declaration should have come much earlier. “It should have been done definitely a long time ago. It’s definitely a crisis,” he said. His work in public safety has shown him firsthand the devastating impact of gun violence on his community.
Sherry Nolen, a mother from West Pullman, lost her 28-year-old son, Akaeem, to gun violence in Jackson, Mississippi, in July 2021. “Akaeem was shot anywhere from three times to eight times. Because the case is still open, I will not know how many times he was hit,” Nolen said. The trauma has rippled through her family and community. “As long as I have life in my body, his memory will live on,” she vowed.
Street Pastor Donovan Price, often the first on crime scenes, has witnessed the crisis’s severity. “I once worked with a family for six years, until almost every member of that family had been killed by gun violence,” he said. Price helps families cope with trauma long after the initial incident. “Trauma is at an all-time high, and so it becomes obvious after a while that what’s going on needs to be dealt with at a higher level,” he emphasized.
First responders, too, are feeling the toll. Chris Dellinger, president of the Emergency Nurses Association, represents 50,000 nurses worldwide. She considers the Surgeon General’s declaration a necessary step for change. “As the voice for emergency nurses, it’s something that we do want to get our message out and get it clearly so we can get legislators’ attention—and what we’re trying to do from the true injury prevention perspective,” Dellinger said.
Illinois had already declared gun violence a public health crisis nearly four years ago, pledging a $250 million investment for the hardest-hit communities. Grants have been directed to community-based groups focusing on violence prevention services, including street-based interrupters, emotional or trauma-related therapy, high-risk youth intervention programs, youth development programs, and trauma recovery services for young people.
Historically, the record year for homicides in Illinois was 1974, with 970 homicides, 669 of which were gun-related. The record for gun-related homicides in Chicago was set more recently, in 2021, with 750 out of a total of 804 homicides for the year. Chicago has seen at least 300 gun-related homicides every year since 1968. Just this past weekend, Chicago Police responded to 25 shooting incidents, leaving 31 people wounded.
The Surgeon General’s announcement has left survivors like Nolen hopeful but with questions. “We already knew it was a public health issue,” she said. “But now, with the Surgeon General saying that, I’m hoping that now, there will be some changes made, you know, in our judicial system.”
Tidmore shares this optimism. “I’m optimistic. I’m optimistic,” he said. “You know, that could be a catalyst for everyone to see now; that it’s an awareness.” The declaration calls for more research on gun violence in connection to the health system and even suggests incorporating gun safety discussions into doctor’s visits.
Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon at the University of Chicago Medicine, has been a vocal advocate for addressing gun violence as a public health issue. His defining moment came on July 7, 2016, during a protest in Dallas, Texas, where a man ambushed and shot at police officers, killing five and injuring nine others. Williams was the attending surgeon that night and the only Black trauma surgeon on a team of 12.
“At the time of the crisis, I wasn’t giving any thought to the external social political climate,” Williams said. “It was a medical crisis, and I’m a trauma surgeon. This is my job.” The experience profoundly affected him, leading him to work on police-community relations in Dallas and address healthcare disparities.
Williams continues his work in Chicago, tackling the toll of gun violence and COVID-19 on the Black community. He teaches a course at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy related to violence and communities of color. “When public policy becomes weaponized, people suffer,” he said. “Policy can affect the lives of millions of people per year.”
Williams’s career has been marked by his commitment to addressing the social determinants of trauma and structural racism. He has faced racism throughout his life, both personally and professionally. Despite these challenges, he remains dedicated to his mission. “It’s not a job, it’s a mission. It’s a life’s purpose,” he said.
The victims of gun violence he treats are overwhelmingly Black. “With the volume of gun violence we’re experiencing, there’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. Williams is optimistic about the potential for change, especially given the resources available at the University of Chicago. “We can solve these problems. It’s a matter of looking at the root causes instead of just treating the wounds,” he said.
Williams hopes to make a difference on the South Side, starting with conversations with individuals and groups already working to fight racism. “The whole goal is to educate, hold a mirror up to ourselves. It’s who we are but it doesn’t have to define us. We can take our shared history of racial injustice and create a more just society,” he said.
The declaration of gun violence as a public health crisis is a significant step, but the work is far from over. For survivors, first responders, and healthcare professionals in Chicago, the hope is that this recognition will lead to meaningful change and a safer future for their communities.
Source: CBS Chicago, University of Chicago Medicine
